Little red wagons are toys that have been enjoyed by children for over 91 years. It all started in the 1930s when Radio Flyer Wagons began to be made by Radio Steel & Manufacturing. These wagons became an almost instant hit and have become so ingrained in pop culture that they are now considered a symbol of childhood.

This symbol now has its own holiday on which it can be celebrated. This holiday is called National Radio Flyer Day, and it is observed on the last Wednesday in March every year.

The History of National Radio Flyer Day

Radio Flyer is a toy company that was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1917. The company started out selling wooden phonograph cabinets and small wooden wagons to carry around tools. However, it was the wagons, more than the cabinets, that captured people’s attention, so the company decided to focus exclusively on manufacturing wagons. Soon, demand outpaced the company’s ability to make wooden wagons, so they decided to switch to making metal wagons in 1927.

In 1930, the company was renamed Radio Steel & Manufacturing and named its new red wagons after Marconi (inventor of the radio) and Lindbergh (an aviator), or Radio Flyer. This company has been selling these wagons ever since. In 1987, they changed their name from Radio Steel & Manufacturing to Radio Flyer. In 2017, on their 100th anniversary, Radio Flyer initiated National Radio Flyer Day.

Observing National Radio Flyer Day

This day can be celebrated by encouraging your children to get out there and play with their little red wagon. It’s also a good day for adults who still have their childhood wagon to break it out and remember how much fun it provided them in their youth. While observing this holiday, people can take pictures of their little red wagon and post them on the internet using the hashtag #NationalRadioFlyerDay.